The Shifting Sands

Us loaded up at the De-N-Ascents shop with Zed, Liquid Logic and Wave Sport kayaks with good decks and Werner paddles I have been drifting back into white water kayaking for the last few months.  I am not sure why I haven't done more but it has been hard to maintain skills to a level that allows you to paddle most Indian rivers comfortably. The Ganga valley Brendon and I had been so focused on trying to get out sea kayking that we hadn't research the white water options. A couple of runs on the Kundalika, a river south of Mumbai, reignited the flame and soon we were looking for some more opportunities. Ashram central at Laxman Jhula near Rishikesh After some research we decided on Rishikesh as a location for getting on some slightly harder big volume white water.  Rishikesh is one of the holiest places in India and is the epicenter for yoga and associated spiritual practices and and is set on the banks of the Gange...

Yesterday we had another day off.  Not sure how a day off with  a 6 am  start works but that was how it was.  We left  at 6 am  for Vasishta Guha ( cave), the caves locally famous for being the site of where a Rishi meditated.  Rishi's are ancient Sages, and Vashishta is one of seven most revered and known Hindu Sages.  An Ashram is located at the site and the glimpse into the reverent life of the inhabitants on the edges of the Ganga was a lovely way to start our day. There were a lot of rules. A view from the cave over the Ganga. On the Way back our teacher, Prasad, saw a man bicycling, we stopped, he talked to him and offered him some support. The man was on a well known pilgrimage route having travelled already far from his home in Maharashtra, our home state, to Rishikesh. He was to visit four holy places spread across all of India.  Him, his bike and the donations of food and money from others who...

21st March 2014 4.30am wake up and 5am on the road, into a typical Himalayan Jeep, 9 of us squished in just beyond comfort for the winding drive up to 1300metres for first light at my spiritual name sake, Ambikas temple.  Honouring Shakti, this temple is popular with tourists and pilgrims alike.  Situated in one of the 52 ey lines holding the energies of Shakti from the earth and skies. We passed some fabulous road signs as we made our way to the temple. Such as " Road is hilly, don't be silly" and "Gentle on the Curves"...so apt as we approached the Divine Feminine! And another new favourite, "Licence to drive, not fly." An hours drive from Rishikesh, a quick stop for chai for some and a gentle walk up 180 steps passed mantras to open pathways to the divine feminine acknowledging memory, creativity, resilience and many, many more aspects of the Divine Feminine. Morning Chai Time The Temple was awaiting us as the other two small tourist g...